If you wish to become a permanent resident of Canada to have a fulfilling career in one of the largest economies in the world, proving your language proficiency in either English or French is a mandatory requirement. English and French are the two official languages of Canada and you must achieve the minimum required score in an approved language test before you can apply for Canada PR visa.
For the English language, the Canadian government accepts the following two tests;
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
While the tests accepted for the French language are:
- Test d’évaluation du français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF)
Canada is largely an English-speaking country with the exception of Quebec province which has a majority of French-speaking people.
Among these tests that you can take for your Canada permanent resident (PR) visa application, IELTS is the most popular test that most of the people opt for.
Why do I need to take a language test for Canada PR visa?
Canada is a multicultural society with many people from different nationalities and backgrounds living together in the country. English and French are the official languages of Canada that help in connecting a large variety of people – as the means of communication. In order to ensure that you are able to communicate effectively and with ease once you become a permanent resident of Canada – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires you to prove your language proficiency by taking a language test in either of these official languages of the country.
Which type of IELTS test do I need to take?
There are 2 types of IELTS test – Academic and General Training. For the purpose of immigration to Canada as a permanent resident, you will need to take IELTS General Training test.
What is the minimum required IELTS score for Express Entry?
Language proficiency test results are converted into Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels to be considered for the application purpose.
CLB is the Canadian standard used to measure the English language ability of people who plan to live and work in Canada as permanent residents, or apply for citizenship.
Please note that CLB level requirement differs across programs as per your current National Occupational Classification (NOC).
For the popular Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the minimum required language proficiency is CLB 7 which is equivalent to a score of 6 across bands or the four language abilities i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Refer to the table below for more clarity:
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| CLB 7 | CLB 5 for speaking and listening CLB 4 for reading and writing | CLB 7 if your NOC is 0 or A CLB 5 if your NOC is B |
Will CLB level 7 be enough for me to receive an ITA for Canada PR visa through Express Entry?
Please note that CLB level 7 is the minimum language proficiency requirement for FSWP, however, you must try to obtain as high a language proficiency score as possible.
The reason being – to rank among the top candidates, you need have a high score, not just the minimum.
So, prepare well for your IELTS test to achieve the best possible score.
Is IELTS accepted for all Express Entry programs?
Yes, you can take IELTS test to apply for all three Express Entry programs i.e. FSWP, FSTP and CEC.
Is it mandatory for my spouse or common-law partner to take IELTS test?
No, it is not mandatory for your spouse or common-law partner to take IELTS test for Canada PR visa. It’s a mandatory requirement for the primary applicant only. However, you can earn extra CRS points by having your spouse/common-law partner appear for an IELTS test and submit their test result during the application process.
What is the fee for an IELTS test?
The IELTS test fee keeps getting revised from time to time. As per the latest revision, the fee is INR 14,000 effective April 1, 2020.
Do Nationwide Visas provide any support for IELTS test?
Yes, for sure. You can take advantage of our free online IELTS classes as an enrolled client. Pick a time slot that suits you best and get valuable support from an experienced IELTS trainer to secure the best possible score in your IELTS test.